Case against Bucs' Aqib Talib was dismissed

The case against Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib has been dismissed, according to his attorney, Frank Perez.

Talib was scheduled to stand trial on charges of assault with a deadly weapon June 25 in Dallas County, Tex.

Police said that Talib pistol-whipped and fired shots at Shannon Billings, the live-in boyfriend of Talib's sister, who resides in Garland, Tex. However, Billings is currently jailed as a repeat sex offender.

Perez said that in reviewing the case, prosecutors did not believe their chief witness would be credible.

"I guess the district attorney, in preparing for trial, had a chance to evaluate the case,'' Talib's attorney told the Times Monday. "The bottom line is that the complaintant is sitting in jail as a repeat child molester and has prior cases of the same nature.''

The dismissal of the second-degree felony, which could have carried a maximum sentence of 2-20 years, if convicted, means Talib's legal problems appear to be behind him for now. It also enables Talib to begin a 2012 NFL season under new coach Greg Schiano with a clean slate.

"We felt strongly the whole time that this would be resolved in Aqib's favor,'' Perez said. "He's very excited he can resume his career and have a fresh start with no problems.''

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